Councilmember Margaret Wille’s viewpoint demonstrates her office’s continued commitment to a privileged agenda rather than one that places focus on the working family.
Councilmember Margaret Wille’s viewpoint demonstrates her office’s continued commitment to a privileged agenda rather than one that places focus on the working family.
The point of my letter to the editor regarding the councilmember’s pay-to-throw legislation is not that it would not work, but that its timing is incorrect based on the reality Hawaii County faces — our economy is not synonymous with large metropolitan economies on the mainland.
As a student at Seattle University, I have had the opportunity to see how a thriving city can raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour so that hard-working individuals can better support their families. But Seattle was able to do this because it is a city that has long recognized the stark truth its citizens sometimes face and adjusts its priorities accordingly.
Hawaii County is still working to establish a foundation where it fully recognizes and is equipped to address the common sense needs of its people. Once homelessness and affordable housing are resolved, the oppressive cost of energy and the health care access crisis are addressed, our pot-holed highways fixed and affordable and healthy food secured for all levels of the socioeconomic ladder can Hawaii County take on privileged issues like pay-to-throw or Bill 33.
Power and privilege come from one’s race, titled leadership positions, education, etc. I choose to use my limited power and privilege to ensure that the community I grew up in receives the support it needs to survive and, I hope, thrive — I am here today because of them. So I hereby question Councilmember Wille’s agenda, which seems to ignore the reality that the masses are working long hours and are unable to attend public hearings in which our County Council bases its decisions on.
Councilmember Wille’s priorities are not horrible public policy ideas, but they will not benefit Hawaii Island at present.
Tyler Saito is a student at Seattle University and a resident of Waimea.
Viewpoint articles are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of West Hawaii Today.